Eagles RB Saquon Barkley Rushes His Way Into The MVP Conversation With Historic Night [WATCH]

Saquon Barkley is not only enjoying an impressive NFL season; he is redefining his career.

After the New York Giants allowed Barkley to leave, the star running back found a new home with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he is having an MVP-caliber season.

It’s a “QB driven league,” but it’s a year that is more run-dominant than it’s been in recent memory

Are the Eagles this good without Saquon Barkley?

They were a team in disarray down the stretch last year w/o him, and now they look dominant & winning

That’s an MVP

— Anthony Cervino (@therealNFLguru) November 25, 2024

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On Sunday night, Barkley set a franchise record with a remarkable 255 yards rushing in the Eagles’ 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Barkley, who was selected No. 2 overall in the 2018 draft, expressed gratitude for his fresh start in Philadelphia. “I’m thankful to be here, thankful for the fresh start,” Barkley said after the game. “A big reason why I wanted to come here … is I think this is a spot where I can rewrite my story. I feel like I can show everyone the type of player I can be and was meant to be.”

On Sunday, Barkley made sure his story included one of the most memorable performances in NFL history.

In the third quarter, he tore off a 70-yard touchdown run. Watch:

Like this if you love Saquon Barkley.
RT this if you love Saquon Barkley.
Reply that you love Saquon Barkley.@saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/0h0Whzyn49

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 25, 2024

He followed that with a 72-yard touchdown in the fourth. Watch:

SAQUON AGAIN! HE’S TOO GOOD

255 RUSHING YARDS. WOW.

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/b1V874AqGo

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 25, 2024

His 255 rushing yards marked the ninth-best single-game rushing performance in NFL history, and it was the first time a player had two touchdown runs of at least 70 yards in the same game since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2009.

The psychological toll those long runs take on a defense was not lost on Barkley’s teammate, Kenny Gainwell. “It hurts their spirit, man,” Gainwell said. “It kills them.”

And on Sunday, the Rams had to deal with two of those game-changing runs. SoFi Stadium, filled with Eagles fans, could hardly contain the excitement as Barkley’s runs left the Rams’ defense deflated.

At one point, Barkley glanced up at the video board to see his rushing total, which stood at 173 yards—just 16 yards away from his personal record.

But after seeing the number, Barkley immediately regretted looking. “I looked up to see where I was at and I literally said, ‘Man, I wish I never saw that,’” Barkley said. “That’s just the devil talking. I just kept my head down, kept trusting the system and I popped a long one.”

What seemed like a modest goal—breaking his personal record of 189 yards—quickly became a distant memory as Barkley eclipsed 255 yards, breaking the Eagles franchise record of 217 yards set by LeSean McCoy in 2013.

He also had the most yards rushing against the Rams, surpassing DeMarco Murray’s 2011 record by two yards.

Barkley finished the game with an astonishing 9.8 yards per carry and a total of 302 yards of offense.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni praised Barkley’s incredible run, specifically the first touchdown, describing it as a unique display of athleticism. “On the first play of the second half, he made a cut that I don’t think anybody else could make,” Sirianni said. “He just stopped on a dime … he put his left foot in the ground, went around the edge and then he just hit the gas.”

Barkley himself gave credit to his offensive line, using one of his favorite sayings: “It’s hard to be great without the greatness of others.”

The Eagles’ win marked their seventh consecutive victory, keeping them atop the NFC East with a 9-2 record, second only to the Detroit Lions at 10-1.

Since the Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016, they have yet to win a home game against the Eagles, falling to 0-4 in that span.

With his stellar performance, Barkley has entered the conversation as one of the leading MVP candidates, alongside quarterbacks Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes. “We’ll start thinking about that when the season’s over,” Barkley said when asked about the MVP race.

“I love being in that conversation, it’s cool and all, but it’s a team sport.”

HOW BOUT THEM BOYS UP FRONT!!!

— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) November 25, 2024

Despite spending six seasons with the Giants, Barkley’s best performances have come this season with the Eagles. “I think everybody knows what kind of player he is,” said Eagles tackle Lane Johnson. “He’s had some ups and downs in his career, but now I think he’s having a year where people can see what type of talent he carries. A guy that size who can do that, it’s fun blocking for him.”

Thank you for Saquon @Giants

— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) November 25, 2024

Barkley’s record-breaking performance is just one chapter in what continues to be a remarkable season.

As he continues to rewrite his legacy, it’s clear that Barkley’s story is far from finished.

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